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Pridento

Tokai Teio won the Arima Kinen.

That spring, Mejiro McQueen sought her third Tenno Sho.

Scene 1 — Trackside / Stadium Afternoon

Nice Nature: Hey, Teio.

Tokai Teio: Not now.

Nice Nature: That was a great race, wasn't it? Rice Shower really earned that one.

Tokai Teio: ...

Nice Nature: You love that story, right? The one who kept trying and finally broke through.

Tokai Teio: Not now, Nature. I need to see McQueen.

Nice Nature: Of course! She probably needs someone...

Nice Nature: ...I was just thinking about how similar it is to yours. Rice's comeback nobody believed in. That just needed someone to lose.

Tokai Teio: ...

Nice Nature: 'Cause yours did too, actually. The Arima. I was in that race, you know?

Tokai Teio: Of course I know that!

Nice Nature: So you remember where I finished?

Tokai Teio: I was focused on running.

Nice Nature: Sure. You were busy having a miracle.

Nice Nature: Rice Shower was there too, you know? Eighth.

Tokai Teio: Nice Nature, I don't have time for this. McQueen is—

Nice Nature: Third. Where I am, usually. Just... the field.

Tokai Teio: And what do you want me to do about that?! I can't make everybody win!

Nice Nature: It's just... I want you to look at what McQueen is feeling right now. When you give everything and it isn't enough.

Nice Nature: That's where I live in every race, Teio.

Tokai Teio: It's not the same.

Nice Nature: Why not?

Tokai Teio: Because McQueen—

Nice Nature: ...

Tokai Teio: Don't.

Nice Nature: Because when McQueen loses it's a tragedy? And when I lose it's—

Tokai Teio: That's not what I was gonna say!

Nice Nature: You don't have to say it.

Nice Nature: I already know which one I am.

Tokai Teio: I— You know what, no.

Tokai Teio: You have fans. You have people who love you.

Tokai Teio: You place all the time but you're standing here acting like none of that counts?

Nice Nature: ...

Tokai Teio: People cheer for you! So many Umamusume would love to be third in a G1 and you've decided it isn't enough because it's not first?

Tokai Teio: You're just— just—

Nice Nature: Jealous?

Tokai Teio: I'm saying you have something and decided it didn't count!

Nice Nature: You have everything and never noticed what it costs!

Nice Nature: You get to be the miracle and I get to be the reason it looks impressive. The thing you run past and stand on—

Tokai Teio: That's racing! That's what racing is!

Nice Nature: I know what racing is! I do it over and over and nobody—

Tokai Teio: I just said people love—

Nice Nature: They love me for losing!

Nice Nature: ...

Tokai Teio: ...

Nice Nature: You— You want to be a miracle. Fine. That's your dream...

Nice Nature: ...But you can't be one without the rest of us losing ours.

Tokai Teio: ...I don't want everyone else to lose.

Nice Nature: You want to win.

Tokai Teio: That's not the same thing.

Nice Nature: It is from behind!

Tokai Teio: So what, Natie?

Nice Nature: Don't call me—

Tokai Teio: Nature. So what? I should just stop and give up? Not try because you have to come third?

Nice Nature: I— I want you to notice me when you do it. Say my name. Say Rice's. That we— that we had to lose so you could stand up there—

Tokai Teio: SO RUN FASTER!

Tokai Teio: I'm sorry. I'm sorry! But that's what we are, we're runners and if you wanted to win so bad then—

Nice Nature: I CAN'T RUN ANY FASTER!

Nice Nature: I run as fast as I can! Every race I give everything I have! Every! Single! Time! And it's never enough!

Nice Nature: That's not a choice, Teio! I don't choose third! I don't want to be third! That's just— that's all I...

Nice Nature: ...

Nice Nature: You can't have your story without me.

Tokai Teio: ...Without you?

Tokai Teio: ...I broke my legs three times. A year staring at the ceiling! Not knowing if I'd ever run again!

Tokai Teio: And I got up and I came back and I won because I earned it!

Nice Nature: ...

Nice Nature: Then explain Biwa Hayahide.

Nice Nature: ...

Tokai Teio: What?

Nice Nature: I— I said...

Nice Nature: ...Biwa. Who came second.

Tokai Teio: I know who—

Nice Nature: Runner of the year. And she lost to you by half a length.

Tokai Teio: Because I—

Nice Nature: Half a length, Teio. The best runner in Japan couldn't close half a length against...

Nice Nature: ...against a comeback on three fractures? You said it yourself. A year off. Three fractures.

Tokai Teio: Stop.

Nice Nature: Have you watched the replay? She was right there on your shoulder the last two-hundred meters—

Tokai Teio: Of course I've watched it!

Nice Nature: You know Biwa hurt her leg when she was young?

Tokai Teio: ...

Nice Nature: Biwa raced through it for her sister. She—

Nice Nature: She always had a soft spot for comeback stories.

Nice Nature: ...

Tokai Teio: ...

Nature couldn't face Teio. She walked away, in hurried, uneven steps.

Teio remained.

She did not go to McQueen.

Scene 2 — Outskirts / Night

Nice Nature: Teio...

Nice Nature: ...

Nice Nature: ...I feel sick.

Nice Nature: Umamusume are born to run...

Nice Nature: ...if I'm no good at that, what am I?

Nice Nature: Just jealous...

Tokai Teio: Nature...

Nice Nature: T-Teio?!

Nice Nature: You're still here?

Tokai Teio: I'm here.

Nice Nature: ...I thought you went to find McQueen. She needs someone, remember?

Tokai Teio: ...So do you.

Nice Nature: ...I— I shouldn't have—

Nice Nature: ...I'm sorry.

Tokai Teio: ...

Tokai Teio: ...It's okay.

Nice Nature: It's not! You were right. You were a miracle. I— I'm just...

Tokai Teio: I felt the same way, you know? After the Arima.

Nice Nature: The Arima? But you—

Tokai Teio: The one before that.

Tokai Teio: Eleventh place. And then I broke my leg again.

Tokai Teio: ...I'd have given anything to be third that day. Anything. To be as consistent and healthy as you.

Nice Nature: Teio...

Tokai Teio: And then I thought, if I couldn't run, what was it all for? 'Cause I'd wanted to win the Triple Crown. And I lost that.

Tokai Teio: So I decided to be undefeated. Hehe... that didn't work out either. I lost. And then I lost again. And again.

Nice Nature: ...

Nice Nature: Yeah.

Tokai Teio: Then I realized... I don't think it matters that much. Winning.

Nice Nature: What? Of course it matters!

Tokai Teio: I mean sure it's fun but... I don't think I really run for that anymore.

Tokai Teio: I run for the people who want to believe in miracles.

Tokai Teio: And to have fun running with everyone beside me. McQueen. And you.

Nice Nature: Me?

Tokai Teio: Yep!

Tokai Teio: You're my rival too, aren't you?

Nice Nature: Me? Haha...

Nice Nature: You really do make everything seem brighter...

Tokai Teio: That's what miracles do!

Nice Nature: I don't know if I'll ever catch up to you, but...

Nice Nature: I'd like to keep running beside you, Teio.

Tokai Teio: Great! Let's go, then.

Nice Nature: What?

Tokai Teio: There's a new honeyade place I wanna try, but it's kinda weird going by myself.

Nice Nature: Haha... Yeah. Alright.

Nice Nature: Let's go.